Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Roseville, CA
VS
San Diego, CA
🏆 Roseville leads 16 of 22 categories
Roseville
California
16
wins
Cost of Living Index
108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$112,265 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
58 ✓ Safer
Population
148,879
San Diego
California
6
wins
Cost of Living Index
111.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$98,657
Violent Crime Index
108⚠ High
Population
1,383,987 ✓ Larger
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Roseville, CA
Pros
47% less violent crime than San Diego
Homes cost $187k less ($596,700 vs $783,300)
Violent crime is well below the national average (219.2 vs 380/100k)
Stronger job market — unemployment is 1.6 pts lower (4.5%)
Households earn $13,608 more per year on average
Rent averages $140/mo less ($1,940 vs $2,080)
Cons
Longer commutes — 27.7 min average each way
San Diego, CA
Pros
Commutes run 4 min shorter each way
Cooler summers — July highs near 80°F vs 94°F
Milder winters — January highs near 67°F vs 55°F
More college-educated — 48.7% hold a bachelor's or higher
Cons
Pricier housing — median home is $783,300
Median income trails Roseville by $13,608/yr
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 111.5)
Higher unemployment (6.1% vs 4.5%)
Key Differences at a Glance
Roseville
Cost of Living
3% cheaper
COL index 108.9 vs 111.5 (100 = US avg)
Roseville
Median Income
$13,608
$112,265 vs $98,657/yr
Roseville
Violent Crime
47% lower
219.2 vs 412.2 per 100k
Roseville
Median Home Value
$187k less
$596,700 vs $783,300
Roseville
Unemployment
1.6 pp lower
4.5% vs 6.1% unemployment
Roseville
Summer Heat
13.8°F warmer
July avg high 93.6°F vs 79.8°F
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Roseville, CA | San Diego, CA |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 108.9⚠ High ✓ Cheaper | 111.5⚠ High |
| Median Home Value | $596,700⚠ High ✓ Lower | $783,300⚠ High |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,940⚠ High ✓ Lower | $2,080⚠ High |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $112,265 ✓ Higher | $98,657 |
| Unemployment Rate | 4.5%⚠ High ✓ Lower | 6.1%⚠ High |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 27.7 min⚠ High | 24.0 min ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 19.1% ✓ Higher | 16.9% |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 62 ✓ Safer | 97 |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 58 ✓ Safer | 108⚠ High |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 68 ✓ Safer | 80 |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | B (99) | B (103) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 21.6:1 ✓ Smaller | 23.0:1 |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 44.4% | 48.7% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 95.5% ✓ Higher | 89.7% |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Roseville City Elementary | San Diego Unified |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 55.0°F | 67.3°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 93.6°F ✓ Warmer | 79.8°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 20.2" | 11.0" ✓ Drier |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 148,879 | 1,383,987 ✓ Larger |
| Median Age | 39.8 ✓ Older | 35.8 |
| Homeownership Rate | 68.1% ✓ Higher | 47.6% |
| Under 18 | 22.7% ✓ More | 19.0% |
| Over 65 | 17.1% ✓ More | 13.8% |
Frequently Asked Questions
Roseville's cost of living index is 108.9 vs San Diego's 111.5 (US average = 100).
Roseville is 3% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Roseville leads 16 of 22 categories. Roseville wins 16 and San Diego wins 6. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Roseville to San Diego or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($596,700 vs $783,300 median home), income ($112,265 vs $98,657), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Roseville, CA and San Diego, CA are about 473 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.